Shared Decision-Making Council
Overview
The Shared Decision Making Team (SDMC) at Berendo Middle School (BMS) is a team facilitated by the principal and the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) chapter chair. Its purpose is to make decisions for the school throughout the year. Members of SDMC, with the exception of the facilitators, are voluntary participants, but they must undergo a voting process and be approved by the faculty. Governed by consensus, SDMC members represent the interest of the students, parents, and faculty. The team makes decisions and implements changes with regards to the bell schedule, the school calendar, activities, scheduling of minimum days, budgeting, and various other matters. SDMC meets on a need-to basis, typically once every month. All decisions are made in light of the school’s vision and mission, and for the good of the school community.
Reflection
Prior to this year, I did not involve myself in any decisions being made at BMS. My attention was focused solely on my students and my classroom. Being part of the SDMC has allowed me to have a broader perspective of my school, and has taught me how even decisions that seem so minute at the time can have a substantial impact on the school, the students, and the faculty.
I have also learned that it is impossible to please everyone. To illustrate, during the 2011-2012 school year, parent-teacher conferences were held only from 5-7 p.m. Teachers complained that it was not adequate time to meet with all the parents. That being the case, this year, SDMC decided to hold parent-teacher conferences from 1-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m; however, a number of teachers criticized this decision because they stated that the time was too lengthy. For every decision that is made, there are people who concur, but others who disagree.
I also learned that before implementing changes, it is important to explain the rationale to the staff so that they understand the purpose of the decision made. For the past few years, BMS has had the homeroom teacher conduct the California Standards Test (CST), including the seventh grade writing test. After much discussion, SDMC concluded that it would be conducive to the students’ success if English teachers proctored the test. When this was announced during the English department meeting, the teachers were in an uproar and demanded that it be changed, asserting that the school was requiring too much of the English teachers. I had to explain the purpose of this alteration, and assure them that we would evaluate the change afterwards to gauge its success, or lack thereof. We may have avoided this situation had the logic of the decision been explained.
Connection to CPSEL
1.2 Planned and implemented activities, ensuring that decisions made regarding school programs, plans, and activities were consistent with the vision; and identified and addressed barriers to accomplishing the vision.
3.3 Utilized effective systems management, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making techniques to support learning, and aligning all resources to support the learning of all students.
Supporting Documents
